Cilantro Smell Means Bed Bugs

If you notice a strange sweet, musty smell like cilantro or coriander near a hotel bed, treat it as a precaution and inspect the room carefully. Ohio State University notes that bedbugs can produce an offensive odor from their scent glands that some people describe as similar to coriander or cilantro, especially when an infestation is heavy. By the time that smell is obvious, the room may already have a significant number of bugs hiding in mattress seams, headboards, or nearby furniture. That is why travelers should check for live bugs, dark fecal spots, shed skins, and blood marks before settling in.

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